Zone 4b, Connecticut

Central Connecticut River valley lowlands and upland forest mix. Bottomland hardwoods, floodplain agriculture, river-edge thickets, and second-growth mixed forest predominate. The corridor towns of Cromwell, Portland, Middletown, and Haddam feature a patchwork of woodlots, agricultural fields, and riparian habitat along the Connecticut River, creating excellent edge cover and mast-producing stands that support a dense deer herd.

moderate

DMZ 4b allows full antlerless tag use on both private and state land. Bag limit on private land is 2 either-sex and 2 antlerless (4 total per season). Antlerless tags are available over-the-counter; no lottery required for general antlerless harvest. State land bag limits may differ — check the CTDEEP hunting guide. Sunday hunting on private land is permitted in Zone 4b (prohibited in DMZs 2, 3, and 4A).

Deer: Archery season Sept 15–Dec 31; Firearms season Nov 19–Dec 9; Muzzleloader season Dec 10–31. Antlerless tags fully available in 4b. Turkey: Spring season opens late April through May 30 (statewide), up to 5 bearded birds total. Fall archery turkey Sept 15–Dec 31 on private land; fall firearms turkey Oct 3–31 statewide. Bear: Connecticut does NOT have a bear hunting season — it is illegal to hunt or trap black bears in CT. Bears are present in the zone (CT bear population ~1,200 statewide and expanding), but bear harvest is prohibited. No suburban firearm discharge restrictions are specifically noted for Zone 4b, which is more rural/semi-rural than Fairfield/New Haven county zones; standard CT regulations apply.

Highest hunter success rate in Connecticut (~38%) and highest deer harvest per square mile (~1.4) across all DMZs. Connecticut River bottomland corridors concentrate deer movement. Full antlerless tag availability supports doe management. Sunday private-land hunting allowed. Wild turkeys are abundant year-round in the mixed hardwood and agricultural landscape.